Cheese-stuffed meatball sliders

I bought a Taste of Home magazine the other day and decided to give a new recipe a try.  I don't usually buy cook books or magazines because internet recipes are free, but it was an impulse buy.

I love meat balls, and I found a recipe that reminded me of tailgating.  With football season in session, I thought this would be great.  I was fooled.

What you'll need:
1.5 lbs of Italian Sausage
16 cubes of part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 jar (24 oz) of spaghetti sauce
1 jar (8.1 oz) of prepared pesto
16 dinner rolls, split and toasted.

What you'll do:
*  Divide sausage into 16 portions.  Shape each portion around a cube of cheese.  Place on a greased rack in a shallow baking pan.  Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, or until meat is no longer pink.
*  Meanwhile, in large saucepan combine sauce and pesto and bring to a boil.  Add meatballs, heat through, and stir gently.  Serve on rolls.

I used little slider buns instead of rolls.  I also added some provolone cheese to the bun.

Mr. Whoa rating:
√√√

He liked them, but I did not.  I think next time I would do half pork sausage and half italian sausage,  It was too spicy for me.  

Nine month review....

Hey friends....if you haven't noticed I kind of go MIA from my blogs.  Am I trying to leave you in suspense?  Not really....I'm just a lazy turd sometimes.

Well its been 9 months since I've turned the big 3-0 and I was looking at the list I made in January.  I haven't conquered most of what I wrote down, but I have taken care of a few things that were weighing on my shoulders.  I have a little time left to get the others done, and if I don't, no biggie.  There are bigger fish to fry.

1. Travel somewhere I have never been.  Well I haven't really done this yet, but I did get to Las Vegas again. 
2. Make a pie from scratch.  Scratch pie: 1  Jajo 0
3. Run a half marathon.  This is one I am really sad about not doing.  I've been saying for years that I want to do this, but I haven't yet.  Its hard when I work Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and most races are held on the weekends.
4. Pay off three credit cards.  This is one I am super excited about.  I have paid off all of my debt (except for three cards that are interest free, and will be paid off before its applied).  I still have my car and my student loan, but thats not bad debt.  I feel good on pay day because its not gone before I get it.
5. Save and maintain at least $1500 in my savings.  Check....super excited!
6. Try a new recipe a week.  I haven't been the greatest at this, but I'm hoping since Mr. Whoa took a new job and its getting colder, we will cook at home more.
7. Skate in a roller derby bout.  I am so sad about this one.  Due to my new work schedule I had to put derby on the back burner for awhile.  I didn't have enough vacation to use every month for the bouts.  Maybe next year.
8. Finish the downstairs bedroom.  This is in progress!  The wallpaper was a bitch to get off, and I hate to paint anyway.  I hired it done.  I wanted to surprise Mr. Whoa, but he caught me.  Oh well...will post pics when "I'm" done.  :)
9. Lose 20 pounds.  I haven't lost 20, but I've lost about 8.  I am also proud to report that I've lost seven inches on my waist.  :)
10. Host a holiday party.  Maybe Turkey Day or Christmas.  I am not looking forward to the holidays at all....will be hard with out mama.
11. Not buy anything for an entire week.  Probably not going to happen.  :p
12. Start therapy.  I keep bouncing back and forth on this one.  One day I feel like I need it, another day I don't.
13. Eat at The Melting Pot.  Still haven't been there  :(
14. Hire a cleaning service.  I found a coupon, filled out a quote request, and the assholes haven't called back.  I'll look at a different company soon.
15. Read six books.  I've read one called Waiter Rant.  Its about a waiter of 15-20 years in the industries talk about his most off the wall experiences.  I loved it, quite funny.  If you've been a server or a bartender, you need to read this.
16. Finish my tattoo.  Finally finished it!  Lots of time and money put into it, but it looks great.  When I'd wear cut off shirts at work this summer, the guys would see the top part thinking it was something dainty.  They asked what it was, so I showed them, and yeah, they were pretty impressed.
17. Take a spa day.  I need this.  Bad!
18. Pay it forward.  I still need to do this.
19. Take a cooking class.  I still need to do this.
20. Burn 10,000 calories in a month.  I am almost certain in my 10 week class I did burn this many, but I was an ass and didn't keep track.  I am thinking about signing up again, so this time I will be a bit better.
21. Participate in the home delivered meal program.  The agency I used to work for has the HDM program (better known as Meals on Wheels) and I used to love to fill in.  Its so fun seeing their faces when you bring them a meal, especially in a lot of cases you are the only person they see that day.  Sad, but true. 
22. Take care of me, medically.  I have been seeing the dermatologist on a regular basis, and they have helped with my break-outs.  My awesome doctor sent me a letter saying she was moving to Colorado, so I need to find a new doctor.  I need to do that soon because my stomach issues are crazier than ever.
23. Have a make-up lesson.  Still need to do this!
24. Get prettied before I go out of the house, at least twice a week.  I've actually been pretty good about doing this.  Its so easy to throw on yoga pants and go, but Ive been trying to wear jeans and do my hair.
25. Detox my closet.  Since I am off all week, I figured the least I could do is clean.  I finally started doing this.  I was getting ready to prepare for a garage sale, and then I stumbled across a Facebook group called Cedar Valley for Sale.  I posted some stuff hoping to make a little money.  I woke up the next morning and had 96 Facebook notifications.  96!  In less than a week I have made over $300, and people are still asking about my stuff.  
26. Be Mrs. Hallmark.  I have been really good about this, except doing my thank-yous from my mom's funeral.  Any time I sit down to do them, or go through her stuff that has taken over the garage, I feel like a 500 pound man is sitting on my shoulders.  I can't deal with that kind of closure yet.
27. Get my 401K rolling.  Yes I know.  I know, okay???
28. Plant a garden.  This was a huge fail.  I tried.  I bought stuff.  I tried to til and I got tired.  Maybe next year.
29. Go horseback riding.  I need to find a place to do this, especially with fall coming.
30. Don‘t sweat the small stuff.  I go back and forth on worrying about things.  This year has been a lot harder than last year.

Ruby Tuesday...Volume 1

I'm a new fur mama!  Well not really, since my pup has no hair.  Meet Reuben, my new Chinese Crested hairless.  Ruby was a Christmas present from Mr. Whoa.  I was actually supposed to get a different pup, but the breeder was a shady lady.

A lot of people push for rescuing dogs, which I support as well.  In our case, Mr. Whoa is allergic to dogs/cats/birds...etc.  Even the hypo allergenic pups bother him.  I had to research different breeders online, and I stumbled across this picture:

I squeeled, showed Mr. Whoa the picture, and he told me to contact the breeder.  I had to fill out an application and even provide three references.  I thought I was applying for a loan or a job.  She called me on the phone a couple of times and then told me she accepted me for the adoption.

Ruby flew in from Ohio about two weeks later.  He's been a little asshole to potty train, but he is such a lover.

Sometimes too much of a lover.....

Autumn Pork Chops

This was the shit!  I love gravy, but this gravy was bomb.  It was light and sweet.

Click here for the recipe!

I actually used butterfly chops because I didn't want to piss around with the bone in chops, especially with a puppy running around.  I like my meat thinner....(yeah yeah, thats NOT what she said).  Call me weird.

Very simple to make and I'm pretty excited for the leftovers tomorrow.  This is another meal that is fairly inexpensive, as most of the ingredients I already had in my pantry.

Mr. Whoa Rating:

√√√√√

Cleaned his plate.  Woot.

Soup and Sammy

Mr. Whoa doesn't request certain things to eat too often, but the other day he wanted soup and sandwiches.  I wanted to hop in my car and drive two minutes (I kid you not) to Panera Bread and take the easier and yummier route.  But I didn't.  Sometimes I'm good.

I came across a recipe for Ham and Potato Soup and decided to give it a whirl.  It was very easy to make, especially since I found a bag of diced potatoes.  I chopped the celery and onion, so give me a damn break.

For the sammies it was nothing special....just picked up some random deli meats from the counter and bought some kaiser buns.

Mr. Whoa rating:

√√√√


Soup was tasty and there was enough leftover for Mr. Whoa to take to lunch the next day.

Chicken Pot Pie

Is it sad that a South Park rerun inspired my dinner?

We've had some great weather here in Iowa lately, but tonight was cold.  I was watching Netflix today and came across the South Park episode where Cartman yells, "No Kitty, thats my pot pie."  I suddenly had a craving for pot pie, and it would be the perfect comfort food for the yucky rainy weather,  

I cruised some recipes online, and I came across this number:  Chicken Pot Pie II. It looked easy enough and the reviews were good.

What you'll need:

1 1/2 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 cup of chicken broth

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 1/2 cups milk

3 tablespoons butter

1 onion, chopped

1 cup chopped celery

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1 (9 inch) pastry for a 9 inch single crust pie

1 egg, lightly beaten

What to do:

1. In a large saucepan over medium high heat, combine the chicken meat, chicken broth, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Cover and let simmer for 30 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear.
2. Remove the chicken and let cool. Pour the remaining chicken broth mixture into a measuring cup. Let stand; spoon off fat. Add enough milk to the broth mixture to equal 2 1/2 cups. Cut chicken into 1/2 inch pieces.
3. In the same pan, melt butter or margarine over medium heat. Add the onion and celery. Saute, stirring, for 3 minutes. Stir in flour until well blended. Gradually stir in broth mixture. Simmer, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and boils. Add the chicken, vegetables, parsley and thyme. Pour mixture into a 1 1/2 quart deep casserole dish.
4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
5. Roll out pastry 1 inch larger than the diameter of the casserole dish on a lightly floured surface. Cut slits in the pastry for venting air. Place pastry on top of casserole. Roll edges and cut away extra pastry; flute edges by pinching together. Reroll scraps to cut into decorative designs. Place on top of pastry. Brush pastry with beaten egg and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Let cool for 10 minutes and serve.

I do have a confession....I did cheat a little.  I bought a rotisserie chicken.  I bought a garlic and herb flavor one, and damn it was divine.  My blsl chicken breasts were frozen, and hey, I'm lazy sometimes.  

Mr. Whoa rating:

√√√√

We both decided it would have been a little better if there was crust on the bottom, rather than just on top.  But it must have been good?

Life happens...

Mama Vir, Circa 1962

As well as loss of life.  My Mom had a heart attack on January 4th of this year, and passed away on February 15th.  She spent six weeks in the hospital following two surgeries and a stroke, and passed away  surrounded by family and friends.

I was a case manager for the elderly for six years, and I always encouraged clients to have a living will and power of attorney.  My mom would never get rid of her throw rugs or her blouses that were twenty years old, but this is something she did listen to me about.  I can't say the decision to let her go was any easier with it being written on a piece of paper, but it gave my sister and I a peace of mind that that decision is what my mother wanted.  She was only sixty-nine years old, and my heart hurts every day.  So please friends, talk to your parents about this.  It sucks, but it will happen some day.  My sister and I had a folder in her hutch we discovered with all of her important papers in it.  In the folder left a note:

Hi Kelly and Jami-

For my investments call Al.  My life insurance and legal documents are in here.  I have no bills, my car is paid off.  I miss and love you.

Love,

Mom

She wrote that in 2007, five years before she passed.  

My dad has been gone almost twenty years.  I feel bad for people who are estranged from a parent, because I was blessed to have two wonderful parents.  Not everyone can say that, but I can.